Passport
WPT Archives: Exploring Our Past
September 23, 2015 Leave a Comment
I spend so much time trying to keep up with this crazy 21st Century (I blame you, Twitter), but when left to my own devices I tend to fall into a much slower rhythm.
Maybe that’s why I’ve always been drawn to libraries and archives. When I was living in Brussels, it was my art school’s local – and dusty – hodgepodge of old books filled with gallery exhibits, tutorials and biographies. Here, I’m lucky enough to have the Wisconsin Historical Society and the University Archives just across the street.
When I was given the opportunity to work with our amazing media archivist, Ann Wilkens, I leapt at the chance. What were our offices like in the 1950s or ’60s? What ideas mattered to us? What were we arguing about and what were we celebrating?
Our archives have helped me visualize everything we were working for and continue to work towards: sharing quality public education, exploring our heritage and understanding our culture.
Now, you can explore with me. We’re digitizing as much of our archival footage as possible and making it available to watch online. Visit our new WPT Archives page, and start poking around. Click on a newly digitized show that catches your attention, or explore by decade. You can also find the WPT Archives by going to our Watch Page, and looking under “Wisconsin Productions.”
Watch John F. Kennedy announce his presidential campaign. Listen in on a conversation with Richard Nixon. Check out some of our more memorable kids shows like The Friendly Giant and Storylords. It’s all right here. Take a look.
Wisconsin Public Television Wisconsin Historical Society John F Kennedy The Friendly Giant
